Frieze New York 2022

Gagosian is participating in Frieze New York 2022, with a solo presentation of work by Albert Oehlen that shines a light on the commercial nature of life in general and art fairs in particular.

The booth features a vending machine offering Kafftee/Cofftea, a hybrid coffee/tea beverage developed by Oehlen in collaboration with Aqua Monaco. A limited number of bottles of the unique caffeinated drink (which, according to the artist, “won’t let you sleep ever again”) are available to the public free of charge. Kafftee/Cofftea was last distributed in Oehlen’s exhibition at the Serpentine Galleries, London, in 2019–20, and previously in exhibitions at Lokremise Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Switzerland (2019); Aïshti Foundation, Beirut (2018–19); and Palazzo Grassi, Venice (2018–19).

The booth also features four paintings from 2014 that reinforce the presentation’s commercial theme. These canvases combine a graphic Pop art aesthetic with abstract painterly marks made using hands, rags, and spray cans, as well as with conventional brushes. The connection with Oehlen’s Fingermalerei (Finger Painting) series (2008–) is clear; in works from both series, printed matter provides a readymade surface that both supports and facilitates unexpected visual and tonal juxtapositions. Here, collage functions as both a formal and a conceptual apparatus.

For more information on the works, please contact the gallery at inquire@gagosian.com. To attend the fair, purchase tickets at frieze.com.